BrownfieldAgNews reports:
U.S. corn planting has surged past the halfway mark and soybeans are getting close. That followed a generally favorable week of planting conditions in many key U.S. growing areas.
The USDA says 62% of U.S. corn is planted as of Sunday, compared to the five-year average of 56%, with 28% emerged, compared to 21% on average.
48% of soybeans are planted, compared to 37% on average, and 17% has emerged, compared to 11% most years in mid-May.
Those favorable conditions also benefited wheat.
54% of U.S. winter wheat is in good to excellent shape, 3% more than last week and 4% above a year ago, with 53% of the crop headed.
66% of spring wheat is planted and 27% has emerged, both ahead of their respective usual paces.
28% of cotton is planted, compared to the typical rate of 31% because of rain delays in parts of the southern Plains, Delta, and southeast.
80% of rice is planted and 64% have emerged, faster than normal, with 77% of the crop called good to excellent, 2% below the first rating of 2024.
26% of cotton of sorghum is planted, matching the five-year average.
36% of U.S. pastures and rangelands are rated good to excellent, up 1% on the week, but down 11% from a year ago.
The USDA’s weekly national crop progress and condition numbers run through the end of November.
